Gotta Start Cousins 16 Times This Year...

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

We were supposed to go 0-4 during the first four weeks, remember?

According to whom?

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

I don't think the TEAM is ready to compete with and beat a team as good as Atlanta with a deplete secondary and without our deep threat or maybe our best possession receiver. I hope Cousins stays within himself and takes what the defense gives him and doesn't force things. Hopefully, the running game works better in Atlanta than against the Giants and Eagles so Cousins doesn't have to try carrying the whole load and try to outplay with Ryan and Jones. I can't envision a victory if Kirk has to throw 45-50 times the Skins need to commit to and get the running backs going to have a chance.

I fully expect to lose this game but I'd like not to be embarrassed in the process. Matt Ryan is averaging 300 yards per game on 67% completions and former Redskins Leonard Hankerson is doing there what he was supposed to be doing here. Our secondary, as you stated, is decimated, and to be honest, isn't that spectacular at full strength. It was our biggest weakness coming into the season. I have a feeling we're going to be tested deep early and often. Every team in the league knows we're good for a big play or a bogus penalty call on deep passes. We're not going to be able to keep the ball for 40 minutes of possession against Atlanta but we better have it more than they do to be in this game at all.

[SkinsJock]

I do think that we can win this week - the Falcons are not as good as their record indicates and we all know we are certainly better than 2-2

these guys can be taken down - no turnovers and run the ball to control the TOP - just like we did on the final drive on Sunday

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

I do think that we can win this week - the Falcons are not as good as their record indicates and we all know we are certainly better than 2-2

these guys can be taken down - no turnovers and run the ball to control the TOP - just like we did on the final drive on Sunday

Atlanta is putting up 34 points a game. Atlanta has defeated the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles already this season. Talk to me when we do that. Atlanta is also favored by more than 7 points. If we win this game it's an upset, not because they're not as good as their record indicates. They are. And they're a damn sight better team than we are. All we have is "any given Sunday."

[SkinsJock]

I do think that we can win this week - the Falcons are not as good as their record indicates and we all know we are certainly better than 2-2 - these guys can be taken down - no turnovers and run the ball to control the TOP - just like we did on the final drive on Sunday

Atlanta is putting up 34 points a game. Atlanta has defeated the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles already this season. Talk to me when we do that. Atlanta is also favored by more than 7 points. If we win this game it's an upset, not because they're not as good as their record indicates. They are. And they're a damn sight better team than we are. All we have is "any given Sunday."

happens all the time - we beat the Rams & the Eagles, we can certainly beat the Falcons - they are NOT that great and we can run the ball on them - call it an upset if you like, who cares - we can win this game - be a good warm up for Cousins before we go take down the Jets

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

happens all the time - we beat the Rams & the Eagles, we can certainly beat the Falcons - they are NOT that great and we can run the ball on them - call it an upset if you like, who cares - we can win this game - be a good warm up for Cousins before we go take down the Jets

The Rams and Eagles are teams we should beat. So were the Dolphins. If we beat the Falcons it was a good win against a good team, not a win against a team not as good as their record indicates.

[Deadskins]

We're not going to be able to keep the ball for 40 minutes of possession against Atlanta

Why not?

[SkinsJock]

This is the NFL - Detroit has not won a game but they should have won the game last night - if we play as well as we can and the Falcons play as well as they can, I don't see much in this game at all - we have a very good running game and the defense against the run has gotten a lot better - it might be an upset to you and to the bettors if we win this game, but it will not be to me or the guys wearing B&G

Seattle has gone 26-2 in their facility and they should have lost a game to Detroit whose offensive line is possibly the worst in the NFL

get out of here with that BS

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

We're not going to be able to keep the ball for 40 minutes of possession against Atlanta

Why not?

Their rushing game is solid. They aren't just throwing for 300+ yards a game, they're also rushing for 100+ a game. Also, their rushing defense is 5th in the league.

[Deadskins]

We're not going to be able to keep the ball for 40 minutes of possession against Atlanta

Why not?

Their rushing game is solid. They aren't just throwing for 300+ yards a game, they're also rushing for 100+ a game. Also, their rushing defense is 5th in the league.

And we have the #1 rushing offense and #2 rushing defense in the league. We can shut them down.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

And we have the #1 rushing offense and #2 rushing defense in the league. We can shut them down.

I think I'd rather let them run the ball. If we get into a shootout we're losing. Our secondary is our Achilles heel. Our special teams would be but it looks like Hester will be out so we caught a break there.

[SkinsJock]

all I'm saying is that the point spread (I think it's 9) is way off here and it's mainly there because they are 4-0 and we're perceived as being the same unit that we've always been i.e. 'bad' - FACT is - so far this season, we are playing better and they should not be 9 point favorites is all

go ahead and theorize all you want - if we win it's not a big upset

[Deadskins]

And we have the #1 rushing offense and #2 rushing defense in the league. We can shut them down.

I think I'd rather let them run the ball. If we get into a shootout we're losing. Our secondary is our Achilles heel. Our special teams would be but it looks like Hester will be out so we caught a break there.

Seems like I've heard that from you before.

I'd absolutely love to think that we have a chance of winning this game. We don't. Almost 80% of the Rams offense is passing, something they do extremely well, to the tune of their wide receivers averaging 17 yards or more per reception last week against Seattle. St. Louis will have to lose the game for us to win it. Our secondary is hot garbage.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Seems like I've heard that from you before.

St Louis did lose the game. They gave up about 200 yards rushing. You can tell me you expected that against their defensive front seven if you like but wouldn't believe it. I certainly didn't. Hell, I didn't even think our offensive line could keep Cousins healthy for the full game. I certainly hope you're not implying Atlanta is as beatable a team as St Louis. If we win this game we will have beaten a good team away from home.

[Irn-Bru]

To me it's a no-brainer: Cousins deserves a full season and maybe more. He's shown enough to deserve the chance to flourish.

[OldSchool]

To me it's a no-brainer: Cousins deserves a full season and maybe more. He's shown enough to deserve the chance to flourish.

I agree and I think his teammates deserve an opportunity to play an entire year with a QB that can run the offense so they have a chance to perform and be fairly evaluated. In August the Oline was taking all kinds of criticism and abuse from the media and fans because Griffin didn't know how to play his position, all that changed when Cousins took over. Cousins gives the receivers and running backs an opportunity to shine because he is making adjustments and completing 3rd down throws and he goes through his route trees so every receiver on every pattern has a chance to get a catch.

[SkinsJock]

Kirk Cousins will continue to be the starter here as long as he keeps playing well - what is very apparent with this franchise this season (all of 4 games!) is that everyone knows that you play well you get more opportunities to play - the same is true of the QB position - Griffin did not look like he had improved much and he's not only on the bench, he's the #3 QB on the roster

Cousins has looked better and better but he needs to keep playing well is all ...

[DarthMonk]

To me it's a no-brainer: Cousins deserves a full season and maybe more. He's shown enough to deserve the chance to flourish.

I agree and I think his teammates deserve an opportunity to play an entire year with a QB that can run the offense so they have a chance to perform and be fairly evaluated. In August the Oline was taking all kinds of criticism and abuse from the media and fans because Griffin didn't know how to play his position, all that changed when Cousins took over. Cousins gives the receivers and running backs an opportunity to shine because he is making adjustments and completing 3rd down throws and he goes through his route trees so every receiver on every pattern has a chance to get a catch.

You got my hopes up for a moment but in the end you could not resist mentioning Griff's shortcomings.

Anyway, I recall C00ley once talking about Todd Collins taking over and on his first practice play, C00ley ran a route and when he turned, the ball was arriving for the first time all year. Guys started running better routes because they new they might get the ball.

[StorminMormon86]

To me it's a no-brainer: Cousins deserves a full season and maybe more. He's shown enough to deserve the chance to flourish.

I agree and I think his teammates deserve an opportunity to play an entire year with a QB that can run the offense so they have a chance to perform and be fairly evaluated. In August the Oline was taking all kinds of criticism and abuse from the media and fans because Griffin didn't know how to play his position, all that changed when Cousins took over. Cousins gives the receivers and running backs an opportunity to shine because he is making adjustments and completing 3rd down throws and he goes through his route trees so every receiver on every pattern has a chance to get a catch.

You got my hopes up for a moment but in the end you could not resist mentioning Griff's shortcomings.

Anyway, I recall C00ley once talking about Todd Collins taking over and on his first practice play, C00ley ran a route and when he turned, the ball was arriving for the first time all year. Guys started running better routes because they new they might get the ball.

Interesting. I don't remember hearing that, but it would make sense giving how awful Campbell was.

[SkinsJock]

:( You got my hopes up for a moment but in the end you could not resist mentioning Griff's shortcomings.

Anyway, I recall C00ley once talking about Todd Collins taking over and on his first practice play, C00ley ran a route and when he turned, the ball was arriving for the first time all year. Guys started running better routes because they new they might get the ball.

Thanks DM - we all should agree that Cousins is doing everything and more to continue to be the starting QB here - good for him & the offense

while the posters continue to go after Griffin, who has not done anything - good or bad - I will continue to post stuff in support of Griffin

meanwhile - Cousins is making good decisions, hopefully he can keep doing this for the rest of the season

[DarthMonk]

Anyway, I recall C00ley once talking about Todd Collins taking over and on his first practice play, C00ley ran a route and when he turned, the ball was arriving for the first time all year. Guys started running better routes because they new they might get the ball.

Interesting. I don't remember hearing that, but it would make sense giving how awful Campbell was.

I also found it interesting. The whole team played harder for Collins - not because they liked him or anything like that but because he did his job well which got everyone involved and made everyone else's job important.

[StorminMormon86]

Anyway, I recall C00ley once talking about Todd Collins taking over and on his first practice play, C00ley ran a route and when he turned, the ball was arriving for the first time all year. Guys started running better routes because they new they might get the ball.

Interesting. I don't remember hearing that, but it would make sense giving how awful Campbell was.

I also found it interesting. The whole team played harder for Collins - not because they liked him or anything like that but because he did his job well which got everyone involved and made everyone else's job important.

And people wondered why the team looked better when Collins came in.

[OldSchool]

It just makes sense if a QB can the plays as designed on time things go better and everyone looks better.

[DarthMonk]

It just makes sense if a QB can the plays as designed on time things go better and everyone looks better.

... and then people try harder and we get a feedback loop of continuing improvement.

[SkinsJock]

I know we don't have much of an option ... if any ... do we keep playing Captain Kirk if he keeps turning the ball over?

I'm just asking a question here?